'Gold of Cape Girardeau' shines in statewide competition

More icing tops a local author's cake, as his page-turning, historical mystery is one of four publications to receive a 2005 Governor's Humanities Award.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, author of "The Gold of Cape Girardeau," was awarded the honor by the Missouri Humanities Council.

Each October, the council chooses individuals in the categories of community heritage, public involvement, education and books. Nominations were submitted between January and April; 13 winners among three of the categories were announced on Tuesday.

The book award recognizes publications that increase the understanding and appreciation of Missouri's history and culture. Swingle's novel is the only fictional work among the four historical publications.

"The Governor's Book Award seems tailor-made to my novel, because it goes to books that increase the appreciation of Missouri's history," Swingle said. Receiving the award simply sugar-coats his dream of educating readers on history through a suspense-filled novel. Though it took 20 years and 20,000 pages of research, that goal has been accomplished.

Fellow history-lover Martha Bender said that she never realized just how much Cape Girardeau sympathized with the South during the Civil War until she read the book.

She believes the award will also benefit Cape Girardeau.

"Hopefully it will make people more aware of Cape Girardeau and why we are what we are," said Bender.

Friend Anita Meinz nominated Swingle, while Bender and Mayor Jay Knudston supported the nomination.

"I think Morley can do anything he sets his mind to," said Meinz, who nominated him as a payoff for his hard work and patience.

Right now, Swingle has set his goal toward a national best seller, he said. Word of mouth might do the trick, and the award should help it along. The book has sold more than 6,000 copies and is in its third printing through the Southeast Missouri State University Press. A former president for Columbia Pictures is shopping the book around production studios.

A sequel is underway, Swingle said. The plot has the same heroine lawyer who tackles another case that involves a historical relic.

More success could take a while. He said, "It took me 20 years to write it. I have nothing if not patience."

jmetelski@semissourian.com

* Michael Dickey, Arrow Rock, for Arrow Rock: Crossroads of the Missouri Frontier

* Scott Kerr and R. H. Dick, Webster Groves, for An American Art Colony: The Art and Artists of Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, 1930-1940

* Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau, for The Gold of Cape Girardeau

* Georgia Warner Walter, Kirksville, for The First School of Osteopathic Medicine